I. A. Dramatic Club

Southland Times, Issue 19304, 17 March 1904, Page 2

I. A. Dramatic Club

The '/.ealundin Hall was fully occupied yesterday evening Wheu this Club produced the sensational 'American drama, 1 " Tho Rough Hidt-r." This is the first occasion oil which tho "drama has been produced in New Zealand, ' and as the 'Ameri-caji-Spanish war bulks largely 5n its story, it is .more thhii usually interest ing. The plot tells how Leslie Crawford, v Cuban planter, finds himself in financial dillieullies, and, incidentally, in the power of his worst enemy. Louis Muiana The latter demunds Crawford's daughter , already afliuticed to Frank Brandon, of tho I.S. army, ius hit) wife, promising to discharge any account, but this is refused. As may be imagined the " war leads to many stirring scenes, in which both men aud women play their parts, the ultimate failure of the villain's plans- and' the sate-

cess of the virtuous coming as a matter of course. Mr A. U. Wills hard the part of the hero, Captain Brandon, and gave it a manly interpretation. He sang " T*'o the Front " in a spirited manner, and | with fairly good tone. Mr L. W. J. Morj ten found his old place as the villain of the play, and, as usual, gave a* consistently good rendering of the unpopular character- Though the villain gets no applause, he is always necessary, and Mr .Morton certainly deserves to be compli•mented on this as well as his previous ■wrformances. . Mr T. M. McGrath created a good deal of fun as> Denis RalYerty, a corporal, and the guardian angel of the CulKin planter. Mr Wills had, in addition to his previous engagement, to fill miother place in the cast, in the person of Dietrich Dinglehonnes, a humorous and easily frightened German. Miss Hislion acted tho heroine, Alice Crawford, and made a success of her part. Her singing was very pleasing in " When Twilight Comes "— v pretty (song admirably rendered. Miss Stone, as Jnoz, was nuito successful, and her singing was also appreciated. Miss ■ "Flo. Cockroft. tilled a double part, each with credit. Messrs J. F. Forde. V. Crawford, J. Robertson, und E. S. Ward filled the ether puits, euch working In nicely. Mr Edwards' orchestra played the incidental music and filled in the intervals with suitable selections.

To-night the {day will lie repeated, nnd there should bo v full houso.